Stratford Park named as one of the best in Britain

Staff at Stratford Park are celebrating being awarded a Green Flag Award for the 13th consecutive year, which recognizes it as one of the best in the country.

The Green Flag Award scheme has been judging the UK’s best parks and green spaces for the past 20 years, and this year sent a `mystery shopper’ to inspect the park.

Councillor Simon Pickering who is the chair of Stroud District Council’s environment committee said:

"We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for Stratford Park.

This Award recognises and highlights that people and wildlife in Stroud are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality.

The facilities in the park are used extensively and the park is a wonderful asset enjoyed by the whole community."

A Green Flag is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said:

"We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards.

All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

In 2010 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Stratford Park coming into public ownership, the park supervisor Mike McCrea launched a monthly biodiversity newsletter to celebrate the rich variety of wildlife activity in the park. The newsletter can be found on the website: www.museuminthepark.org.uk